Sheet metal working apparatus, especially for welding machines



y 1943- I w. A. WEIGHTMAN 6, 48

SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY I FOR WELDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 9, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 mizzzzzmfl. Wez'ghiman INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1948- w. A. WEIGHTMAN 2,446,148

SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY FOR WELDING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1945 William .19. Wei hZman INVENTOR BY T g ATTORNEY July 27, 1948. w. A. WEIGHTMAN I SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY FOR WELDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 9 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 .H. We z'ghiman INVENTOR 8 M 7 Tulm c ATTORNEY W. A. WEIG HTMAN SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS,

2,446,148 ESPECIALLY July 27, 1948.

FOR WELDING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 9, 1943 INVENTOR M/WEN ATTORNEY July 27, 1948- w. A. WEIGHTMAN SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY FOR WELDING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 9, 1943 INVENTOR ATTORNEY .wmmuunuummu..."

July 27, 1948. w WE|GHTMAN 2,446,148

SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY 1 FOR WELDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 9, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 William fl, Wz'ghiman/ .INVENTOR ATTORNEY I July 27, 1948. w. A. WEIGHTMAN 2,446,148 SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY FOR WELDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 9, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet s Wz'ZZz'amfl. WeL'g/flman INVENTOR BY a ATTORNEY 1 w. A. WEIGHTMAN 2,446,148

SHEET METAL WORKING APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY FOR WELDING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 9, 1943 fl .3 2 A i a k m M. w w a w 9 a T. i 8 @l 8 w Aw 8 a O D O O 0 a 8 O O O O O 3 Q n 8 H 2 as @V @v l 3 m a w a w F w Will zbm fl, Wz'ghiman INVENTOR BY M F. W

ATTORNEY I i a Patented July 27, 1948 SHEET METAL woaxmo srraasrus.

ESPECIALLY FOR WELDING MACHINES William A. Weightman,

signer to The Budd Company. a

Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pa., as-

corporation of Application November 9, 1943, Serial No. 509,539

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a sheet metal working apparatus, especially for a welding machine. Still more particularly, the invention is outstandingly designed for use in resistance roller welding apparatus adapted to weld skin sheets and reinforcing stringers together along longitudinal lines, and has ior an object the provision of improvements in thisart.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide roller welding apparatus which will accommodate very wide panels.

Another object is to provide roller welding apparatus which makes a panel accessible to welding machines located on both sides thereof.

Another object is to provide, welding apparatus which holds a plurality of sheets in stretched condition, which permits manipulation of each sheet at each end, and which permits conjoint manipulation of all sheets a panel collectively at either end.

Another object is to provide improved sheet gripping and stretching mechanism.

The above and other objects will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an installation comprising a plurality of travelling roller welders and a plurality of travelling panel stretching holders;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of one welder and one pair of panel stretching holders;

Fig. 3 is a transverse elevation taken on the line 2-3 of Fi 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse elevation and vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;'

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a partial top plan view of one of the panel stretcher holders, the view being taken on the line of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical longitudinal section taken on the 1ine8-8 of Fig. '7

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 89 of Fi 8;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view taken about on the line llll0 of Fi 2;

Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line I l-ll of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on the line l2--i2 of Fi 11.

The apparatus herein provided is intended to stretch sheets of metal to prevent buckling during welding. It is particularly applicable to thin metal sheets, such for example as 01 cold-rolled stainless steel, which are subjected to resistance welding, as by rollers travelling thereover. As shown in Fig. 1, it comprises a plurality of panel stretchers A, B, and C mounted to travel along a central track 20, and a plurality of roller welders D and E mounted to trave1 on outside tracks 2| and 22 which very precisely parallel the central track 20.

Each stretcher A, B, or C, includes a pair of sheet holding carriages or supports 23 and 24, both of which are provided with sheet or skin gripping devices 25 and one of which, 23, is provided with sheet stretching devices 26. Except for the fact that one carriage of each pair includes skin stretching means which the other does not have and that the carriages are set up in opposite directions on the track, they are identical and the following description or one will serve for both.

As shown in Fig. 2, each stretcher carriage 23 or 24 is mounted on flanged wheels 21 which roll on rails 28 of the track 20. As a convenience, the carriages are self-propelled, as by a motor M which drives the'wheels 21 through sprocket chains 28.

The stretcher carriages may be moved as a pair to any desired position along the track and may also be moved relative to each other to hold panels of any desired length. One such panel P, comprising a skin 33 and stringers 34, is shown in Fig. 2 stretched between the gripping devices or clamps 25 of one pair of carriages 23, 24. In this position, the carriages are clamped in a fixed position to the rails 28 of the "track 20, as by clamping devices 35.

As shown in Fig. 4, the clamping device 35 includes the lateral projections 36 which engage the underside of the rail head when pulled up by the clamp screw 31. The screw carries a block 38 on its lower end which engages the upper surface of the rail head. The clamplngaction, Fig. 2, raises the remote wheels 21 slightly and fulcrums the carriage about the proximate wheels 21. The terms remote and proximate" refer to the relationship of the wheels of one carriage to those of the companion carriage. Inasmuch as the rails are subjected to a bending action between the clamps and the proximate wheels when the panel is pulled tight between carriages. they are made relatively deep and are strongly anchored to the foundation at short intervals.

The welding machines D or E, Figs. 2 and 3, are mounted on flanged wheels 4| which roll on rails 42 of the tracks 2| and 22 firmly anchored stu ies srmc, o, lower till end on upper G0, corrying weld lngrollers (39. Between the sums e. deep thrust S50 is thus formed. The terms also curry stringer guide rolls ill with oompsnion supporting rolls 522 and Brewing devices 58 with supporting snvils Us. The lower welding rolls are edjustulole ver ticolly. us by e. power-opereted screw 55, end the upper rolls are movobie verticelly at the will oi the operetoi' by suits-hie moons of my desired character.

When the rolls are disposed neor the middle cl" a. panel, it is dlmcult for an operator stending olongside the panel to observe the welding opere tlon. To remedy this, a. folding platform St is hinged to the side of the upper nrin 438 so ss to he folded up or swung down for the operator to lie upon. A rod [59 supports the plotform in lowered position.

The sheet stock which is available for forming the skin to of the ponel P is mostly ovsilehle in limited widths only, the maximum width st present being about 26" for stainless steel. Conse= nuently, in melting a. wide psncl such us thot contemplated herein, two or more sheets: are welded together in overlapping relationship. The present apparatus provides improved means for stretching adjacent sheets, bringing them into proper overlapping relationship, and there hold the them for connection and for the attachment of stringers when desired. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a. number of adjacent sheet-holding, sheets clumping or sheet frumes are mounted on each. curl-loge. There are live for five sheets. as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The frames are somewhat narrower thou the sheets to be held in order that the protruding edges of the thin sheets may be brought into overlapping relationship. Each sheet-holding frame is provided with a. plurality of gripping devices 25. three as shown; and on each stretcher carriage 23 each gripping device 225 is provided with a stretching device 2%, whereby the tension on each sheet may be adjusted and equalized comes its width.

As shown in Figs. 5 and "I. each sheet-holding frame 62 is mounted to slide on transverse guidewaysill and 64 and has retaining strips t5 and for holding it down thereon. The slide frsmes are moved along the guidewuys es desired by s pinion shaft 61 provided with a pinion 68 meshing with a. relatively fixed rack Bill. The upper ends of the shafts may be shaped to take 9. wrench and there may be a plurality of such operating shafts and pinlons for each slide or sheet frame.

It may be desirable to move the entire end of a. panel and the several slide frames 62 us a, unit. For this purpose, the slide frames are mounted on a, sub-slide, sub-frame or panel frame m which slides on a base frame H. The sub-slide is provided with slots and is retained by bolts 82. It is moved, Fig. 6, by a rotating non-slldable screw 13 threaded into 9, depending projection l4, screws being provided so as to be accessible from both sides of the carriage, if desired.

As shown in Fig. 2. the skin 38 is supported in fistteneu condition ct each end; upon. horizontal sheet rest bars ll end is pulle'ddowu at an angle thci'ebehind. On the right end, it is merely gripped and held; and on the left end, it is gripped and pulled. The gripping moons M is the some on both ends. That for the left end is shown in li ies. l to ll, end that for the right end is shown hi Figs. id to 13.

A lower gripping jaw 89 is provided on a jaw slide to which is movable longitudinally slong suitable guides provided on the trensversely mov sble sheet-holding frame 62, being held thereon by retaining moons 09. There ore, us stated heiore, s plurolity oi gripping devices on such sheet-holding Home. Upon ouch jsw slide so there is pivoted-es on the hinge pin 852, e. coulpenion upper low 88; and upon the low member 83 there is pivoted, us by e. hinge pin 86, u com 06 adapted to engage beneeth 9. com pin 36 on the lower jaw when the upper jaw is swung down-.- The com 85 is operated to grip or release the sheet ill} by a. hunolle Ell.

The Jew slides tillsre moved longitudinally by suitable means. In the case of the gripping -xnesns on the rlghtside, Figs. 10 to 12, the moving means is merely for adjustment und here such jaw slide to. is provided with one or more adjustment screws ltd anchored to an upstanding lug or bracket 89. a stop nut being provided on the screw 88.

,At the left end, Figs. 4, 5, und 7, two rods 92 are secured to each jaw slide lid and after passing throughguidc holes in upstundlng lugs or brackets @3 are connected to the front end of a. fluidopcroted power cylinder 9%. The cylinder is mounted to slide upon and react with a piston 85 which is secured to the bracket 83. Fluid is supplied to the outer side of the piston head by s channel to through the piston stem and o flexible conduit 9? and to the inner side through a channel 9t and a, flexible conduit to. The outer side oi the piston head has greater area. than the inner side to furnish the greater force for moving the jaws in skin stretching direction. The conduits 9? for the three cylinders of one sheet-holding frame 82 are provided with indivicluol hand cut-oft valves Hill and are connected to a. common pipe Mi leading to a. reversing valve 082. Likewise, three conduits 99 are connected to s common pipe its leading to the reversing valve. Fluid is supplied to each reversing valve by a. pipe Mt provided with a, pressure adjustment device Mill and a. pressure gage EN. The several pipes for the several sheet holders (five here) receive pressure fluid. preferably air, from a. common fluid pipe lull.

The pipe Hill for each stretcher carriage 23 (Fig. 1) is connected by a. flexible conduit I.08

with a. fluid main M9 which parallels the tracks and is provided with connection outlets atfrequent intervals.

An electric supply main H0 with frequent outlets parallels the tracks and each carriage is provided with a. flexible cable ill for connecting to the main Bill. The welding devices are also supplied from such power and fluid mains as may be required through suitable connections, not shown.

In operation, a. number of sheets are clamped in the two carriages 01' a. pair, the edges of the sheets protruding from the sides of the horizontal bars 1'! which support all sheets of a, panel at a common elevation and a common longitudinal position or in a. common line across the panel.

The carriages, of course, will first have been clamped to their supporting rails at the correct distance apart and at the desired location along the tracks. Incidental to the clamping action, the stretcher cylinders 34 are supplied with fluid under low pressure to place a slight tension in the sheet. Where a full width sheet is used, the fluid is supplied to all three cylinders of a group together.

When two adjacent sheets have thus been clamped, one or both sheets are moved transversely to bring their protruding edges into the desired overlapping relationship. This is done by turning the pinions 63 along the racks 69 at both ends simultaneously to move the sheet-holding frames 62 along their ways.

When all of the sheets which are to comprise a panel are assembled in proper mutual relationship, the entire panel may be shifted at one or both ends by turning the screws I3 to traverse the sub-slides l0. 9

Either the frames 62 or the sub-slides 10 may be moved at any desired time, the operation described above being the usual one.

After all of the sheets have been properly positioned, the pressure of fluid in the cylinders 94 is increased to increase the tension on the sheets.

Stringers 34 are .now placed in desired locations on the panel and one or more of the welding machines is brought up into operating position on one or both sides of the panel respectively. The sheets may be tack-welded together and the stringers may be tack-welded to the panel, if desir d.

During welding, the guide rolls hold the stringers in correct position immediately ahead of the welding rolls 49. When desired, the welds are peened as the work progresses by the peening device 53.

This apparatus provides very simple and convenient means for stretching and lapping a plurality of sheets to form a panel and holding the panel in proper position for one or more welding machines. The panels are available to welding machines on either side and a plurality of panels are available to any selected machine or machines. This ls very important inasmuch as the make-ready time required for setting up a panel in a stretcher may amount to more than the welding time.

While one embodiment of the invention has been ,described for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that there may be various embodiments within the limits of the prior art and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Sheet metal working apparatus comprising in combination, a pair of supports adapted to hold stretched between them a panel composed of a plurality of sheets, each support'having a plurality of adjacent sheet-clamping frames adapted to hold sheets at their ends with their side edges projecting, and means for moving the frames transversely relative to each other whereby to bring the projecting edges of the sheets into overlappin relationship.

2. Sheet metal working apparatus comprising in combination, a pair of supports adapted to hold a panel composed of a plurality of sheets, each support having a plurality of adjacent sheetclamping frames adapted to hold a sheet, each sheet-clamping frame including a plurality of sheet clamps mounted for independent movement thereon, and means for moving the frames transversely relative to each other whereby to bring the edges of the sheets together.

3. Sheet metalworking apparatus comprising in combination, a pair of supports adapted to hold a panel composed of a plurality of sheets, each support having a plurality of sheet-clamping frames adapted to hold a sheet, means for moving the frames transversely relative to each other to bring the edges of the sheet together, a sub-frame supporting the sheet-clamping frames on a support, and means for moving the sub-frame transversely on the support to shift the ends of the panel as a unit.

4. Sheet metal working apparatus comprising in combination, a pair of supports adapted to hold a panel composed of a plurality of sheets, said supports having movement relative to each other for accommodating panels of different length, means for clamping a movable support in adjusted position, a transversely adjustable panel frame on each support, means for adjusting the position of a panel frame and holding it in adjusted position, a plurality of sheet frames on each panel frame, said sheet frames having movement relative to each other for adjusting the lateral position of one sheet relative to another, means for adjusting the position of the sheet frame, a plurality of sheet clamps on each sheet frame, and means for moving each sheet clamp longitudinally to stretch the sheet.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further characterized by the fact that the moving means for the sheet clamps on one support of a pair includes fluid operated devices, one for each clamp.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further characterized by the fact that the sheet frames of each support include sheet rest bars which support all sheets of a panel at a common elevation and a common longitudinal position.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further characterized by the fact that the sheet frames of each support include rest bars which support the sheets in a common line across the panel.

8. Sheet metal working apparatus comprising in combination, a support for each end of a panel, a plurality of sheet frames on one of said supports, said frames being adjustable in position transversely of the panel, and. means including a fixed rack and a pinion on each sheet frame adapted to cooperate with said rack to' move the frame.

WILLIAM A. WEIGHTMAN.

REFERENCES The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

